Mumbai: Maharashtra Nursing Council today announced a partnership with Health Careers, a leading Australian healthcare education provider, to deliver world-class Continuous Nursing Education (CNE) and professional development training for nurses in Maharashtra. The partnership will facilitate CNE and training for the 2,00,000 strong nursing workforce in Maharashtra. Health Careers will work in collaboration with hospitals across the state to deliver workshops for professional development for nurses on-site’. To support continuous training for nurses, Heath Careers will also offer nurses unlimited access on-line to nursing resources, and further CNE programs.

CNE programs for nurses are similar to CME (Continuing Medical Education) programs for doctors. Through CME’s doctors gather credit points by attending learning sessions to enhance their understanding about the latest advances in their area of practice. By attending CNE’s Nurses too will gather credit points which will reflect in their smart card which will be provided by MNC.

Speaking about the partnership, Maharashtra Nursing Council, President, Shri Ramling Mali, said: “This initiative is an important part of our efforts to continue to raise the standard of nursing practice in Maharashtra. Nurses play an important role in healthcare delivery. Through equipping themselves with the latest developments and standard of care, our nurses will be better equipped to improve the overall level of care for patients. We are pleased to be partnering with an organisation like Health Careers that shares our vision and commitment to Professional Development for nurses”.

Commenting on the partnership, Health Careers CEO and MD, Bijo Kunnumpurath, noted the initiative of Maharashtra Nursing Council to introduce a single ‘e-registration’ card for nurses in Maharashtra. “The rollout of an e-registration card for nurses is a forward-thinking initiative by the council that requires nurses to update their skills. Health Careers’ high quality training programs will assist nurses to complete 5 CNE training points each year.”

For subject expertise, Health Careers has appointed Prof Dr Arun Jamkar, an eminent educationist and a globally acknowledged innovator, as Chair of Health Careers India Internationalisation Committee. Dr Jamkar was a former member of an expert group of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Vice Chancellor for MUHS (Maharashtra University of Health Sciences). Health Careers will deliver world-class education and training that will launch the international nursing careers of nurses from Maharashtra.

The WHO (World Health Organisation) has long acknowledged the crucial contribution of nurses and midwives to improving the health outcomes of individuals, families, and communities. The significance of CNE programs is defined by the fact that nurses and midwives bring people centered care closer to the communities where they are most needed, thereby helping improve health outcomes and the overall cost-effectiveness of services.

In celebration of its 50 year anniversary, the Maharashtra Nursing Council has for the first time formed a partnership with a renowned overseas organisation to develop the nursing profession in Maharashtra and India. The partnership, formed by Dr Ramling Mali and his team, will adopt the latest collaborative and digital tools that will help accelerate coordination and connectivity between India and Australia.

The move will help cater to the needs of rural Maharashtra to equip nurses with excellent skill development processes. In addition, the partnership will coordinate CNE seminars for Senior Executives and nursing leaders from Maharashtra, and a Global Nursing Conference in India and Australia which will bring together leading speakers to discuss developments in nursing practice and education.